pettymichaelj

This book is a nostalgic ramble around Cambridge with old photos from 1888-1988.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about it is how recent some of the things that seem timeless are: Guildhall (1939), Walnut Tree Court at Queens (1935), the Coe Fen bridge (1926) , St John’s chapel (1866), the Downing site (1904), Shire Hall (1932) Hills Road Sixth form (1974), OLEM (1890), Addenbrookes (1962), Kings 9 lessons and carols (1918), bicycles (became popular around 1910), Elizabeth way bridge (1971), any supermarkets at all (1963) may week (1882), national Grid electricity (1927), punting only became popular in 1907!

We have also lost things that I never really knew about: All Saints Church Trinity Street, and the central library in Wheeler Street. And the Mill Road library, oddly possibly currently for sale after being a temple for a bit. The Theatre Royal on Newmarket road is now the Buddhist centre. The Roger Ascham Open Air school for children with TB. Workhouses (now Ditchburn place home for the elderly, after a stint as a maternity hospital). We had trams, until 1914! Trinity was a hospital during the war! There were huge gas cylinders near the river! There was a garrett hostel lane bridge that was completely different until 1960!

And it really brings home how much was taken up by the Lion Yard and Grafton Centre developments. And there were car parks everywhere! In the middle of the market! In the middle of New Square!

And there are some mad things that we could bring back - Good Friday skipping? A swimming race from the Mill Pond down the backs? Setting Hanson cabs on fire and riding them around town on bonfire night? Setting up a bridge between the guildhall and the corn exchange to have really large parties? Carrying a wooden roundabout to what would be Mitcham’s corner every day for the whole of 1915 to test it? (Also, Mitcham’s corner was named after Mitcham’s shop!)… (mehr)